Egyptian Court Vindicates Baha'is

Egypt's Supreme Administrative Court has ruled that Egyptian Baha'is do not have to falsely list themselves as Muslim, Jewish or Christian in order to obtain state identification (necessary to attend school, receive state benefits, etc.). This particular case has been making its way through the court system for a couple of years, and has gained some international attention from human rights activists.

The case stems from the fact that under the laws of many countries in the Muslim world only the three major monotheistic religions have official recognition, combined with the fact that since Baha'ism originated within Islam, it is treated by many Muslims as apostasy.

This court ruling is a victory for Egyptian Baha'is, and it comes ironically at a time when Iran (the country in which Baha'ism first took root) is trying seven Baha'i leaders on charges of (among other things) spying for Israel. (The fact that world Baha'ism is headquartered in Haifa is also used against Baha'is in the Muslim world, though the fact dates from long before the creation of Israel.) The Iranian Baha'is are being represented by Nobel prizewinner Shirin Ebadi, but the Iranian courts are not as independent-minded as Egyptian courts still tend to be.